Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab) has secured a new £47 million contract which will create 100 new jobs.

The new contract, to build platform jackets for the Cygnus gas field in the southern North Sea, comes just a week after the Fife-based firm announced it would double its workforce by adding 350 new jobs as a result of securing £140 million in new contracts with Premier Oil.

This latest contract win, part of a wider £375 million of initial contracts awarded for development of the Cygnus field, will provide work for BiFab's Methil, Burntisland and Arnish, Isle of Lewis yards.

The Cygnus gas field – discovered in 1988 – lies to the north east of Norfolk and is one of the largest gas finds in UK waters in 25 years.

When the field comes online, it is expected it will meet around a quarter of the annual UK gas demand.

Scottish Gas parent company Centrica, which owns a 48.7 per cent stake in the field, has now agreed a joint venture with GDF Suez (38.7) and Bayerngas (12.5 per cent) for an overall £1.4 billion development plan for the shallow water field.

BiFab is one of a number of firms to benefit from £375 million of initial contract awards for the field development.

The developers estimate the Cygnus gas field will create around 1,000 direct jobs and a further 3,000 indirectly, and the joint venture development partners have said 80 per cent of the spend will be with UK suppliers.

“It's also very satisfying to see such a positive outcome from the investment we've made, alongside our partner Fife Council, in the Fife Energy Park to support the energy sector's infrastructure.

"Through Scotland's recently launched Oil and Gas Strategy, we know that the North Sea has at least 40 years worth of production remaining and this announcement is a testimony to its long term importance and the opportunities for future development that remain.

“Which is why it's great to see companies like BiFab already taking advantage and growing their business now.”